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Shanghai had about a half million gasoline powered motorbikes in 2000. The motorbikes have become a significant contributor to ambient air pollution in Shanghai. This study selected an electric bike (e-bike) as a potential replacement for gasoline powered motorbikes. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out for the two systems in terms of energy utilization and environment implications. LCA results indicated that e-bike is not better than the motorbike in all environment categories. The e-bike consumes less energy than the motorbike during its life cycle, and emits less GWP into air, and less BOD, COD, DS and HC into water. On the other hand, it generates more solid wastes, acidification potential, and HM than the motorbike, due to electric power production. Therefore, the Shanghai government should advocate advanced batteries and clean coal fired power plant technologies while implementing an electrical vehicle plan.

Low-cost automotive catalysts have been developed that contain 20-30% of the precious metals (7-15 g/ft3) commonly used in conventional catalysts, while providing a high efficiency of emissions control and durability for vehicles operating in emerging market countries. These catalysts were reformulated by replacing the Pd, Pt and Rh mixtures with optimized mixtures of rare-earth oxides (REOs). Laboratory studies demonstrated that these aged REO catalysts (80,000 km) with unleaded Chinese fuels reduce vehicle emissions by an average of 99%, 80% and 92% for CO, HC and NOx, respectively, when operating as a three-way catalyst in a closed-loop control mode at a stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio. REO catalysts with 7.6g/ft3 of precious metals were tested on in-use Chinese Volkswagen Santanas with carbureted engine. Several strategies for air injection were tested on these vehicles.

This book presents an analysis on the potential effects of globalization on the automotive industry and the environment. Energy challenges, market economy growth, and population dynamics are considered. The authors also present future scenarios for transportation technologies to meet the ever growing global demand for transportation of goods and services while minimizing energy and environmental impacts and maximizing cost, value and widespread acceptance.